Indigenous music legacy celebrated with new exhibition

The University of Adelaide will celebrate 50 years of Indigenous music education with a new interactive exhibition.

Let Our Songs Speak for Us tells the story of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music (CASM) and its ground-breaking history.

CASM, which sits within the University’s Elder Conservatorium of Music, is the only university-based centre for studies in Australian Indigenous music.

Graduates include ground-breaking Indigenous artists No Fixed Address, Us Mob, Coloured Stone, and Kuckles, as well as modern artists Zaachariaha Fielding of the band Electric Fields, Marlon X Rulla, Ellie Lovegrove and Simi Vuata.

The exhibition will feature musical showers, which will surround the visitor with music from some of the program’s graduates, as well as photos, posters and artifacts which capture key moments in CASM’s history. 

Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of the University of Adelaide’s Elder Conservatorium of Music said this exhibition was the perfect opportunity to reflect on the significant contribution that CASM has made.

“CASM has led the way when it comes to Indigenous music education in Australia,” Professor Goldsworthy said.

“This exhibition is a celebration of the diversity of our students and the hard work of everyone involved with CASM over the last 50 years.”

The University of Adelaide’s Mr Grayson Rotumah, Lecturer, Elder Conservatorium of Music, said the exhibition is a proud moment for the students and their teachers.

“CASM has led the way when it comes to Indigenous music education in Australia."Professor Anna Goldsworthy, Director of the Elder Conservatorium of Music

“The range of music our students produce is vast – from traditional music, to rock, country, reggae, and blues in the 1980’s and more recently, hip hop and house or electronica,” Mr Rotumah said.

“The impact that our graduates have had on the wider Australian music industry is immeasurable and we are excited to see where the future will take us.”

Let Our Songs Speak for Us is part of the SA History Festival and made possible thanks to support from the City of Adelaide.

When
Until June 2, Monday to Friday, 10am – 4pm

Where
Ira Raymond Exhibition Room, Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide, Kaurna Country

Tickets
Admission is free